Project Information

The objective of the Grand Junction Field Office RMP is to establish management goals and actions to maintain, develop and protect the resource values of BLM administered land within the field office planning area. This document will guide the agency’s management of public lands to ensure healthy ecosystems, promote multiple uses and develop natural resources for present and future generations.

As part of the plan preparation, a supporting environmental impact statement (EIS) will also be prepared. Both the RMP and EIS will be developed concurrently with a full range of public participation. An integral component of the Grand Junction Field Office RMP development process is public involvement. Throughout the project, local interests and residents will have opportunities to participate and share their insights and comments.

General Schedule

January-April 2013- Draft RMP/EIS 90-day public review and comment period (Extended to June 24)

Fall 2014- Proposed RMP/Final EIS

Spring 2015– Record of Decision

Planning and Decision Areas

The planning area is the geographic area within which the BLM will make decisions during a planning effort. A planning area boundary includes all lands regardless of jurisdiction; however, the BLM will only make decisions on lands that fall under the BLM's jurisdiction (including subsurface minerals). The decision area is the land within a planning area for which the BLM has authority to make land use and management decisions. In general, the BLM has jurisdiction over all BLM-administered lands (surface and subsurface) and over the subsurface minerals only in areas of split estate.

Documents

The documents page contains all documents produced in conjunction with the RMP such as the scoping brochure, comment form, newsletters, and reports.

Preliminary Planning Issues and Management Concerns

Planning Issues were identified through the scoping process based on comments from the public recieved in 2008 and 2009. A planning issue is a dispute over resource management activities or land use that is well-defined and entails alternatives among which to choose.

Energy Development - Which areas should be open to oil and gas leasing, coal mining, and uranium development, and what restrictions should be employed to protect natural and cultural resources and minimize user conflicts?

Recreation Management - How will recreation be managed to provide for a variety of recreational activities, while protecting natural and cultural resources, minimizing user conflicts, and providing socioeconomic benefits to local communities?

Lands and Realty /Community Growth and Expansion - What opportunities exist to make adjustments to public land ownership that would increase the benefit to the public, local communities, and natural resources, while working towards BLM management goals? Should the BLM designate areas to accommodate major ROW corridors across the GJFO planning area, and are there areas that should be avoided or excluded from ROWs?

Wildlife and Fish - How will land uses be managed to maintain and improve terrestrial and aquatic habitats? How will the BLM manage the public lands to provide for the needs of fish and wildlife species?